John Rich turned himself in to police Thursday to face misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment filed by former 'Nashville Star' contestant Jared Ashley.The charges stem partly from an alleged altercation at Rich's private Nashville nightclub, The Spot, where Ashley claims the country mogul punched him in the face. Rich insists that he simply had security throw the aspiring singer out, as he was in the club without permission.
"This entire ridiculous situation is nothing more than an effort by Jared Ashley and Music Row attorney Chris Sevier, to try to obtain money from me," Rich writes in a statement obtained by MusicCityTV.com. "Mr. Sevier and Mr. Ashley have falsely accused me of misdemeanor crimes. I trust that the truth will come out through the process of our American justice system and that I will be completely exonerated at the end of the day."
The feud between the two singers has been brewing for a few years. Rich once accused Ashley of breaking into his Nashville home -- a claim Ashley vehemently denies. Just one day after the incident at The Spot, Ashley posted a YouTube video of his performance at a downtown Nashville honkeytonk, during which Rich gets up on stage and interrupts the set. And in April, Rich sued Ashley for defamation, taking Ashley to task for saying in a radio interview that Rich had punched him.
"It's unfortunately common in my line of work that there are a very small number of people who want to take advantage of another person's success and try to get something for nothing," Rich says in his prepared statement. "I truly did make every effort to work this out in connection with the defamation lawsuit I filed against Mr. Ashley."
Rich explains that he turned himself in to police because he'd rather defend himself through the law than try to settle with Ashley.
"I decided that a civil settlement would be impossible due to the fact that Mr. Ashley and his attorney demanded that I pay Jared Ashley 2.9 million dollars, even though he is the one who has defamed me," Rich insists.
Reader Comments(1 of 4)
bob7rob7at 5-29-2009
Lovers breaking up is always hard. John should not have hit him.
perfecto727at 5-29-2009
As much as I do not care for John Rich, this so called singer Jared Ashley's performance is pathetic. I hope the Utube video of him singing was a joke. Sounds like someone is trying to get some money and fame off of John Rich.
majahu4at 5-29-2009
Mr. Rich, DO NOT TRUST OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. IT SUCKS!!
dacarrollat 5-29-2009
John Rich is an egostical country superstar wanna-be who thinks if he keeps company with real country singers, he may become one some day. You can tell from his arrogance, ".....there are a very small number of people who want to take advantage of another person's success." The only one small here is you John Rich. And some words of wisdom, "You must possess character before you can accuse someone of defamation."
jbjg24mat 5-29-2009
could not have said it better myself !!
Kathy Weaverat 5-29-2009
WELL SAID dacarroll,,,
Kathyat 5-30-2009
Amen. Can't stand John Rich. He is not a good singer and is totally an ass.
ibdoowopat 5-29-2009
John Rich is a right wing wack-a-doodle in spite of his current hit about workers in Detroit losing their jobs.
Big Palin supporter. Shows how "not so smart" he is.
Hey youat 5-29-2009
Listen, I hate to be rude, if I am being, but you'd hate to hear that left-wingers are wack-a-doodles. John Rich may support whoever he wishes to support, and I hope the truth comes out. Thanks.
Michelle
ibdoowopat 5-31-2009
Right wingers are wack-a-doodles because they're judgmental, more often then not........ ignorant of what's really going on in this country because they listen to FOX so-called News and the likes of liars like Limbaugh and Hannitty. They also tend to be hypocrites.
They think because they wave their American flags, tattoo flags all ove their bodies, wear T shirts with the flag on it or wear little flag lapel pins or sing so-called "patriotic songs"........they're patriots.
Look up "proper flag etiquette" on your search engine and see that all the above ways and more of wearing the flag are considered unacceptable and disrespectful ways of displaying the flag.
John Rich is the classic example of someone who exploits religion and patriotism to make a buck. Jesus would be horrified to see what Christians have done to his name by exploiting every aspect of Christianity for money just like they exploit our flag.
How many of you yahoos know that one is never ever suppose to use the flag in advertising, on clothes, parade floats, paper plates, etc., as decoration of any kind and the only people who are suppose to wear a flag as decoration are military personel, police officers and the like along with groups like VFW. The rest of us are not suppose to disrespect the American flag by wearing it on underwear, bathing suits, dirty T shirts, etc.
This little lapel thing started when Nixon was close to be impeached and he donned the little pin to make himself appear more honorable then he was. Ane we know he was not honorable.
Look it up if you don't believe me.
mystic1554bat 5-29-2009
GOOD. I have always saw this guy on TV and he has such an arrogance about him. Never liked his personality at all which is too bad because I do enjoy their music.
rosemattat 5-29-2009
Never ceases to amaze me the libs that crawl out to criticize any conservative that gets in any kind of trouble, even if it is obvious why they are....here is a part out of the article (of course at the end...AOL is part of the mainstream media).....
"Mr. Ashly and his attorney demanded that I pay 2.9 million dollars". And the libs have the audacity to rip on Rich? It shows just how small minded and idiotic they really are.
votarusat 5-29-2009
The only thing obvious from the YouTube video is that John Rich is too drunk for polite words. There is nothing more heinous that one performer can do to another, besides interrupting their work. Note, too, that Mr. Rich turns to the band and flips each one off, and keeps pointing down...(was he saying to them, "you'll never work in this town again?")
As far as the guy's singing voice in the video...well, it's really not fair to judge a singer when a "country superstar" is threatening you while singing! My voice shakes when I get upset...I'm sure that happens to singer's too.
Please get John Rich to an AA meeting ASAP.
hotwirdat 5-29-2009
It is hard to feel sorry for Rich, a little man with an inflamed ego. More ambition than talent. Here is a guy that went around local zoning and built a house so tall and large(in a mature, relatively modest neighborhood) that neighbors views were obstructed and property values went down. I love the bob7rob7 comment because you know, John don't want them 'homasexuls' marrying up. Here is his direct quote from a radio show: "I think if you legalize that, you've got to legalize some other things that are pretty unsavory. You can call me a radical, but how can you tell an aunt that she can't marry her nephew if they are really in love and sharing the bills? How can you tell them they can't get married, but something else that's unnatural can happen?"
wds126at 5-29-2009
Why was Ashley in Rich's private club if they had a previous fallin out - because he is a wanna be, that's why.